**German Police Raid Hamas Members’ Properties After Ban on Militant Group**
On Thursday morning, hundreds of German police officers conducted searches on 15 properties linked to members and supporters of Hamas, following the recent ban on the activities of the Palestinian militant group.
The formal ban on Hamas was implemented on November 2, leading to the dissolution of Samidoun, a group that had celebrated Hamas’ attacks on Israel in Berlin. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “We are continuing our consistent action against radical Islamists. By banning Hamas and Samidoun in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any glorification or support of Hamas’ barbaric terror against Israel.”
German authorities estimate that there are around 450 Hamas members in the country, engaging in activities such as expressing sympathy, propaganda, financing, and fundraising for the militant group. The raids on Thursday morning primarily took place in Berlin, with 11 locations linked to Hamas and four to Samidoun. Additional searches occurred in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein, involving over 300 police officers in total.
This is not the first time that German officials have taken actions against extremist groups. Earlier this week, police raided the homes of 17 individuals accused of spreading antisemitic hate speech and threats against the Jewish community in the state of Bavaria.
“We are keeping a close eye on the Islamist scene,” Faeser stated. “Islamists and antisemites cannot and must not feel safe anywhere here.”
The recent raids and ban on Hamas activities demonstrate Germany’s commitment to cracking down on extremist groups and protecting its citizens from the influence of radical ideologies.